Fay at [email protected] writes: << I have the parish records, both from the Meath Heritage Centre and from the parish priest. One lists "Curragh, Kildalkey" but that is the only hint. There is no townland by that name, and as far as I can find, "curragh" may mean "racetrack." Anyone have any other hints? >> Fay, There is a Curragh townland in Meath, but not in your area around Kildalkey. The same goes for the six listings for Curraghtown, in Co. Meath. I believe that the use of Curragh for a racetrack applies only for Kildare, as curragh itself means a marsh or a moorland.......and the Curragh in Kildare is located on a huge, level area of moorland. I don't see any boggy areas in the civil parish of Kildalkey (Disc. map 42), only a few coniferous forest areas (probably mostly Coillte's work). However, the parish has the Tremblestown and Stonyford rivers as its main boundaries, and there are a series of drainage "ditches" throughout the parish. Just no townland of, or similar to, Curragh. Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts

Thanks to all of you who are trying to help me figure out the "Curragh, Kildalkey" notation on a baptism. It was enlightening in many ways. > From: [email protected] > Reply-To: [email protected] > Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2003 12:56:21 EDT > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [MEATH] KILDALKEY - Townland Question > Resent-From: [email protected] > Resent-Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2003 10:56:30 -0600 > > Fay at [email protected] writes: > > << I have the parish records, both from the Meath Heritage Centre and from > the parish priest. One lists "Curragh, Kildalkey" but that is the only hint. > There is no townland by that name, and as far as I can find, "curragh" may > mean > "racetrack." Anyone have any other hints? >> > > Fay, > > There is a Curragh townland in Meath, but not in your area around Kildalkey. > The same goes for the six listings for Curraghtown, in Co. Meath. I believe > that the use of Curragh for a racetrack applies only for Kildare, as curragh > itself means a marsh or a moorland.......and the Curragh in Kildare is located > on a huge, level area of moorland. I don't see any boggy areas in the civil > parish of Kildalkey (Disc. map 42), only a few coniferous forest areas > (probably mostly Coillte's work). However, the parish has the Tremblestown > and > Stonyford rivers as its main boundaries, and there are a series of drainage > "ditches" throughout the parish. Just no townland of, or similar to, > Curragh. > > Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts > > > ==== IRL-MEATH Mailing List ==== > In your search for records, keep in mind that in old Ireland, borders for > provinces, baronies, counties, archdiocese, diocese and townlands moved with > swings of the battle axe. Check nearby places for records. >

Just a wondering Pete, not that this will help home in on the actual place, but Kildalkey townland or town is in Kildalkey Electoral District. Kildalkey townland or town is in Kiladalkey civil parish and also in that parish we have Moatstown and Lady Island. Wouldn't those two names imply that there is some kind of wet ground around or something - more than just areas where rivers are..............that there could be a reason for a townland being known locally as a Curragh, even if it's not listed as so in any official townland name index. Remember, the townland names as we see them today are not as they were in the past - they differed between censuses. Regardless of official names - the locals continued and in some cases continue to call them as the original name. How close are Lady Island and Moatstown as a matter of interest - if you have time Thanks. Jane ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 5:56 PM Subject: Re: [MEATH] KILDALKEY - Townland Question > Fay at [email protected] writes: > > << I have the parish records, both from the Meath Heritage Centre and from > the parish priest. One lists "Curragh, Kildalkey" but that is the only hint. > There is no townland by that name, and as far as I can find, "curragh" may mean > "racetrack." Anyone have any other hints? >> > > Fay, > > There is a Curragh townland in Meath, but not in your area around Kildalkey. > The same goes for the six listings for Curraghtown, in Co. Meath. I believe > that the use of Curragh for a racetrack applies only for Kildare, as curragh > itself means a marsh or a moorland.......and the Curragh in Kildare is located > on a huge, level area of moorland. I don't see any boggy areas in the civil > parish of Kildalkey (Disc. map 42), only a few coniferous forest areas > (probably mostly Coillte's work). However, the parish has the Tremblestown and > Stonyford rivers as its main boundaries, and there are a series of drainage > "ditches" throughout the parish. Just no townland of, or similar to, Curragh. > > Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts > > > ==== IRL-MEATH Mailing List ==== > In your search for records, keep in mind that in old Ireland, borders for provinces, baronies, counties, archdiocese, diocese and townlands moved with swings of the battle axe. Check nearby places for records. > > >